Hermes Chypre Sandal Men Techno-sandal Matte Mississippiensis Alligator Blue Saphir

Sapphire is the blue that alligator was made for. The scales hold depth in a way smooth leather cannot, because each tile catches light differently, so the colour moves between navy and ink as you walk. Matte finishing keeps it from looking polished and formal, which matters on a sandal.

The build is the Chypre one: an anatomical rubber sole shaped under the arch, a black calfskin insole against the foot, a low black rubber base with reliable grip, and a single strap over the instep that adjusts through its buckle. Sizing covers 40 to 46 and the pair is made in Italy.

Worn with grey trousers and a white shirt, this is the sandal that makes a summer evening outfit look intentional. With shorts it is a statement, and a quiet one at that. I have taken mine from a hotel lobby to a beach bar without a change of shoe, which is the test I apply to everything now.

Care is the trade-off, and it is specific: alligator darkens slightly where it is handled and flexed, sapphire shows water spotting as light rings, and the matte surface gathers visible dust in the grooves between scales. Rinse, dry, brush and condition lightly twice a season. Neglect the material and it goes flat; look after it and the depth stays for years. Two seasons on, the sapphire has darkened very slightly in the creases, which I would call patina, and the scales have kept their shape without lifting anywhere along the strap.